Barcelona are ready to rival Manchester City for Schalke forward Leroy Sane after scouting him again this weekend.

The 20-year-old made his international debut for Germany in the autumn after only a handful of promising Bundesliga appearances and new City boss Pep Guardiola is understood to be very impressed by the youngster.

But Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez was at Schalke’s 2-1 defeat to Mainz on Friday night to watch the 6ft 1in Sane as the Nou Camp club consider their options for this summer.

Schalke last month denied that the in-demand prospect has a £28million release clause in his contract, but are aware of mounting interest from the Premier League and Spain.

Forward thinking: Barcelona and City are both tracking Sane (Image: Lars Baron)

Barca were not understood to be prioritising the signing of a forward this summer, with an elite young central defender the club’s priority.

Yet the club are committed to bringing in the most talented young players in the world and are continuing to follow Sane as they have done since first impressing at a youth tournament with Bayer Leverkusen, aged 14.

Sane is the son of former Senegal striker Souleymane Sane and Regina Weber, an Olympic medallist in rhythmic gymnastics for Germany at the 1984 games in Los Angeles.